Abstract
espanolEn este trabajo evaluamos los efectos del grado de iluminacion nocturna (fase lunar e iluminacion artificial) en la actividad de ejemplares de salamanquesa comun (Tarentola mauritanica) de diferentes edades en un ambiente humanizado. Los datos de comportamiento individual se recogieron mediante observacion directa y posteriormente se examinaron mediante un analisis lineal generalizado mixto (GLMM, por su sigla en ingles). La presencia de luna aumento el numero de salamanquesas activas. La iluminacion artificial redujo el efecto de la luna en el numero de salamanquesas activas, pero no en su actividad individual. Ademas, se observaron mas salamanquesas adultas alrededor de fuentes de luz artificial debido a que los individuos de mayor tamano monopolizaban los mejores lugares de alimentacion. La capacidad de utilizar habitats humanizados iluminados artificialmente, especialmente durante las noches de luna nueva, puede beneficiar la actividad de alimentacion en especies de reptiles nocturnos como las salamanquesas. EnglishIn the present study, we evaluated the effects of nocturnal light level (i.e. lunar phase and artificial lighting) on the activity of wall geckos (Tarentola mauritanica) of different ages in an anthropic environment. Data on individual behaviour were collected by direct observation and later examined by means of generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analysis. The presence of moonlight increased the number of active wall geckos. Artificial lighting reduced the effect of moonlight on the number of active geckos but not on their individual activity. A greater number of adult geckos was found around artificial light as large individuals monopolized the best foraging sites. The ability to use artificially–lit human habitats, particularly on new moon nights, can benefit the foraging activity of nocturnal lizard species such as the wall gecko.
Highlights
Several vertebrate taxa have been shown to adjust their nocturnal activity and behaviour in terrestrial habitats in relation to the levels of moonlight (e.g. Longland, Price, 1991; Kotler et al, 1991, 2010; Clarke et al, 1996, Lillywhite and Brischoux, 2012)
Wall geckos in our study modified their nocturnal activity in relation to levels of light
Individual activity and the number of active geckos were higher on full moon nights
Summary
Several vertebrate taxa have been shown to adjust their nocturnal activity and behaviour in terrestrial habitats in relation to the levels of moonlight (e.g. Longland, Price, 1991; Kotler et al, 1991, 2010; Clarke et al, 1996, Lillywhite and Brischoux, 2012). Since higher levels of light increase predation risks, moonlight involves a trade–off between activity and safety (Kotler et al, 2010). Divergent responses to moonlight among species of nocturnal reptiles such as lizards seem to arise from differential activity patterns of both prey and predators of these animals in relation to the level of illumination (Reichmann, 1998). The use of artificial outdoor lighting has increased greatly over the last century, changing illumination levels at night in most of the world’s urban areas and adjacent habitats (Cinzano et al, 2001; Hölker et al, 2010). Reptile taxa occurring in or close to urban areas have rarely been studied in this context (Perry et al, 2008). Studies on the effects of lighting on reptiles are scarce, increased prey availability around artificial night lighting has been documented in some lizard species (Perry et al, 2008)
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